I feel like thebump could have used a more pedestrian fruit or veggie to compare bV to this week, but whatevs. Honestly if we're being topical amongst friends, I probably should compare her to Slurpee or Frosty sizes. I'm suspecting she's at the medium to value size at the moment?

This week you get a straight up ghetto fab hotel bathroom pic because I left the house too early this morning to snap the usual bedroom pic. Offsite work meetings and such. However, Friday starts a week of lakeside vacation for this girl, so I'm very, very much looking forward to that!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Aunt Jane shared today's artwork on her Facebook page and as I flipped through the photos I was tagged in, I nearly lost my beans. The theme of today was "How I See My Family" and I implore you to peep what's below and not die of cuteness overload:

Are you kidding me with the "Harper in Mommy's tummy" and "Harper when she is big"?!??! I know I have raging pregnant hormones running rampant throughout my irrational self, but I had real tears when I saw this. I love that even in his little 4 year old mind, he knows she's already a part of our family.

He kisses and hugs his sister every day, and sometimes when he's feeling extra generous, he will try to slip an extra piece of his candy or bite of his ice cream treats into my belly button to share with her. It kind of hurts my brain to even fathom what it will be like when she's actually here, but I know it will be incredibly special, and he'll be the best big brother in all the land.

Monday, July 22, 2013

If you've known me for a minute, you know I LOVE Christmas. It's a borderline unhealthy obsession and my house looks like the garland fairy threw up all over it from December 1 (respect the Turkey!) until mid-January. It's fine.

You might also know that the secondary centerpiece of holiday decor (next to the tannenbaum) is the stockings hung by the chimney with care. I've been waiting five years to buy a personalized family set, and now that bV has a real name, I took the plunge.

I know. They make my heart smile and I'm so jazzed for all the years I have ahead of me to fill them with things that will make my children smile. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS.

Oh, and if you're wondering, I got them at this etsy shop. Jackie was GREAT to work with and she's even running a sale right now - $5 off each stocking.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

I'm scheduled for my C-Section on October 18--bright 'n early. In some ways, 3 months feels like just enough time to get ready for her, and in other ways (you know, like all the normal ones) it feels like an eternity.

In related news, it's hot as balls in metro Detroit and I'm seconds from vaporizing into a pile of swollen cankles. Daily, I want to dump a Slurpee down my pants to cool off, but then I would be real sad about not being able to actually drink it, so instead I just sit and sweat. Literally.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

bV's the size of a head of lettuce!
She's still growing in the 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range, and developing her senses, features and talents!

bV at 26 weeks:
- Her eyes are forming, and her eyes will soon start to open.
And her eyelashes are now grown, too.
- She's getting her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies.
- She's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.via thebump.com

Speaking of talents, I think Little Miss Harper has a future in gymnastics because MERCY this child likes to move around. I remember Alex's movements being so soft and "swimmy" - which I think really reflects on his real-life personality of being so gentle, thoughtful and deliberate. Harper? Let's just say I predict she's going to be a handful if her ninja kicks and 360° flips have anything to say about it.

Monday, July 15, 2013

So I'm getting to that point in pregnancy when I'm pretty much over it. Over the swelling. Over the hunger. Over the sleeplessness. Over the heartburn. Over the ninja kicks. Over. It.

And yet, there's nothing I can do to change anything about the above. But there IS something I can do about my hair. Hair and shoes. That's pretty much the only thing I have any control over as related to my person at this moment through October. And since we're all friends here we know that I'm teetering on the edge of even being able to wear shoes. Because Kim Kardashian called me and wants her feet back.

As such, I'm probably about to do something both a) drastic and 2) that I'll regret.Odds are high I will call my dear, sweet hair ninja Jenny over lunch and book myself a little appointment and I will come home as a blonde or with some terrible ombre or even worse...BANGS.

I'm on the cliff and there's no sense in talking me out of it. Because it's either that or I go out and get some maternity skinny jeans and we ALL know how that oxymoron ends.

Friday, July 12, 2013

As noted, Harper's name has nothing to do with the author of "To Kill A Mockingbird." However, on the slight chance she will inherit her Momma's love of writing and reading words, I thought it might be a cool touch to find a really neat, old copy of the book to put somewhere in her nursery.

While perusing the aisles of resale book stores and library sales might seem very Belle-from-Beauty-&-the-Beast-gliding-across-the-big-screen-on-a-library-ladder-while-deep-in-song to some of you, to me it sounds hot, sweaty and smelly. And probably fruitless. So I turned to my old pal, ebay, who came through like a champ!

I know, right? It's so perfect & I love it. Perhaps I can convince Joey to assemble the crib this weekend and I can start putting the room together. Because currently? It's a hot mess of Amazon boxes, Target bags and tubs o' clothing. But it's organized chaos, at least.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

bV's the size of a cauliflower!
During month six, the average fetus measures about 13.6 inches to 14.8 inches and weighs about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds.

bV at 25 weeks:
- She's enjoying her new sense of equilibrium -- she now knows which way is up and which is down.
- She's growing more fat and more hair too!via thebump.com

In other news, you'll be happy to know that my normal and sweet Alex returned in all his glory last night. We built Lego cars (he put a star on it "special for Mom") and we got Dairy Queen and all around enjoyed each other's company. What is it all those non-hormonal and normal people say? This too shall pass? Yeah, that.

And in other somewhat related news, you guys are good guessers! Some got it from my pin hints on Pinterest, and some got it right here. bV's name is Harper Lee. Unintentionally the same as the author of "To Kill A Mockingbird." 'Harper' is because we just love it. 'Lee' is because it's my middle name and also my grandfather's middle name. Harper won't get to know her "GG" in this life, but he'll always be a part of her!

And in very related news, here's a ridiculous conversation I had with my dear husband last night:

Joey: "What are you now, like 28 weeks?"Me: "25 actually, but thanks for paying attention, douchebag."Joey: "Any chance you can hurry that girl up?"

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Yesterday was one of those days when Alex got a delightfully early bedtime (which he earned, let's be clear) and I retreated to the dark of my bedroom to decompress from the day and remove myself from all humankind. See also: DO NOT DISTURB. Unless you have wine. Then, please, disturb.

Alex has been especially...spirited...lately, and my energy and patience to deal with his 4 year old drama is all dried up come 6 p.m. The icing on this overcooked and dry parenting cake is that his sister has been a reeeeaaaaal dick lately herself. Pretty sure last night she had me by the ribs with her 25 week ninja deathstar grip and isn't going to let go anytime soon.

What I'm saying is I really just wanted to complain today so just keep reading along and I promise eventually I'll be back to my standard rainbows and unicorns shooting glitter out their bottom parts. Because I've got about 14 weeks left of these shenanigans and it's either I write my drama here and you suffer through it with me or I hop a plane to Cabo with nothing packed but a gross maternity swimsuit and some SPF 50 and I'll see you 'round later.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

bV's the size of a cantaloupe!
Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

bV at 24 weeks
- Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque.
- And it's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.via thebump.com

In exciting news, bV has a REAL name now, and everyone gets a hint today. If you already know you can't guess! When I tell smart and well-read people her first and middle name, their first comment is, "Like the author?"

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

I'm doing some significant purging of late--call it nesting, call it OCD, call it just wanting to get the boxes of things out of my basement. Regardless, the hours and time I spent carefully boxing and labeling everything of Alex's from NB-3T was nothing short of a waste of time. Because this?

Is all going to friends that are having baby boys. Before you question my insanity, I'd rather try to shave my legs at this stage of pregnancy than even THINK about having a Mom2Mom sale or a garage sale. It a'int happening.

Sure, I went through a few of the NB, 3 and 6 month boxes to pull out the things I want to save--like the gender neutral stuff, Christmas outfits or things that were just really special to me. But the rest? Goodbye!

And please say hello to the items that are taking their place. Specifically, the holiday items I cannot resist!

Monday, July 1, 2013

We took a little vacation (which Alex called a "day-cation"...appropriate, as we were gone all of 1 day) to Kalamazoo over the weekend. It's a quick drive, but still felt like a getaway.

We started Saturday at the Air Zoo, which I highly recommend if you live near the area. It's an awesome facility (clean & bright!) with games and activities and even rides for all ages--and a GREAT value. Alex even got to shake the hands of some Navy WWII Vets, which made me extra proud of my boy and this great country we live in.

He's on there!

4D movie!

Double jointed thumb, much?

We stayed at one of my favorite Kalamazoo Hotels, the downtown Radisson. As we were on the concierge floor (um, hai) we also got to attend the evening reception, which Alex called his "fancy party" much to the delight of everyone else in the room. We rode the escalators no less than eleventy billion times and spent a fair amount of time in the pool - just what we all needed. We even dined at some of my downtown favorites like Burdick's, Olde Peninsula and Food Dance.

We ended our hotel evening as all VeeDub hotel stays commence: with copious amounts of ice cream and cake (and sometimes even pizza) eaten in bed. I think it might be Alex's new favorite family tradition.

Before our journey home, we stopped at a few places on campus at my Alma Mater, Western Michigan University. My, how things have changed around there! But some of the best landmarks will never change:

With my future Broncos. :)

All weekend I was trying to imagine what vacations will look like when bV gets here. Most notably, how we'll be able to make more than one "fancy hotel bed" for both her and her brother: